If you’re planning to move to Germany with your eSim-compatible device(s), you might be wondering whether there are any eSim (or embedded SIM) providers in Germany.
Luckily, Germany is one of the countries that supports eSIM technology, making it easy to purchase and activate a mobile data plan without the need for a physical SIM card.
Although there are a lot of eSim providers online, if you want to have a German phone number, you will need to get an eSim from a local provider.
Quick overview of the eSIM providers in Germany
If you’re short on time and want a quick overview of the pros and cons of the current eSim providers in Germany, here is our comparison table:
| Vodafone | Telekom | SIMon mobile | O2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Website & Support | English App & Partial Support | Website in DE, App in EN, Customer Support in DE |  | |
| Network Provider | Vodafone | Telekom | Vodafone | Telefónica O2 |
| 5G available |  | | | |
| Max. Download / Upload Speed | 500 / 100 Mbit/s | 300 / 50 Mbit/s | 50 / 25 Mbit/s | 500 / 50 Mbit/s |
| Max. Data Volume | unlimited | unlimited | 27 GBs | unlimited |
| Cheapest Connection | from €29,99 | from €39,95 | from €8,99 | from €19,99 |
| Contract Length | 2 years | 2 years / flexible | flexible | flexible |
| EU Roaming Included | | | | |
| Switzerland Roaming Included | | | | |
| UK Roaming Included | | | | |
| Online Purchase Available | | | | |
Please note
This guide is intended for anyone moving to Germany who wants a German phone number. If you plan to visit Germany as a tourist and just need data to surf online, getting an eSIM card from any online provider is best. German eSim providers only accept customers who already live in Germany.
Best eSIM providers in Germany
The three most popular eSim providers in Germany are:
1. Vodafone
In 2022, according to Statista, Vodafone was the second-largest telecommunications company in Germany.
As you can see in the images below, Vodafone has great 4G and 5G coverage throughout Germany.
You can access Vodafone’s interactive map to make sure they offer coverage in your area.
Vodafone offers the following eSim data plans:
- Prepaid: You are not tied to a contract and can cancel it every month.
- Postpaid: The contracts last for 24 months, and you can choose whether you want a new contract with or without a new phone. You would need to pay extra every month for the new phone.
To get an eSim with Vodafone, you just have to choose a plan and select eSim.
In the video below, we show you how to select eSim on a postpaid mobile contract with Vodafone:
Vodafone eSim Benefits:
✅ eSim available for prepaid and postpaid plans
✅ Mobile app in English
✅ Customer service partially in English
✅ Discounts are available in their postpaid plans if you already have Vodafone as your home internet provider
✅ EU roaming included
Vodafone eSim Drawbacks:
⛔️ Sign up in German only
⛔️ The postpaid contracts tie you for a minimum of 24 months
2. Telekom
Telekom is the largest telecommunications company in Germany. Although Telekom is the market leader, their tariffs seem to be on the higher end and they all have a one-connection fee.
As you can see in the images below, Telekom also has great 4G and 5G coverage throughout Germany.
You can access Telekom’s interactive map to make sure they offer coverage in your area.
Telekom offers the following eSim data plans:
- Prepaid: You are not tied to a contract and can cancel it every month.
- Postpaid data-only plans: This data plan does not tie you to a contract for 24 months. You can cancel it every month. This is just for surfing the internet; you won’t get a German phone number.
- Postpaid: You can choose whether you want a 24-month postpaid contract or one that you can cancel monthly. You can also choose to get a postpaid mobile plan with or without a smartphone. If you decide to get one with a smartphone, you will pay your mobile data plan plus a monthly fee for your new phone.
To get an eSim with Telekom, you have to choose a plan, add it to your basket, and change the sim type to eSim.
In the video below, we show you how to select eSim on a mobile contract with Telekom:
Telekom eSim Benefits:
✅ eSim available for prepaid and postpaid plans
✅ Mobile app in English
✅ Their postpaid mobile data plan does not tie you for 24 months
✅ Discounts are available in their postpaid plans with a smartphone if you already have Telekom as your home internet provider
✅ EU roaming included
Telekom Esim Drawbacks:
⛔️ Sign up in German only
⛔️ Customer service in German
⛔️ Most of their mobile data plan contracts have a one-time connection fee
3. SIMon Mobile
SIMon Mobile is a subsidiary brand of Vodafone. This new brand aims to compete with budget-friendly prepaid tariffs from discounters.
They differentiate themselves as they offer a postpaid contract that you can cancel monthly, plans for 12, 17, and 27 GB, no connection fee, unlimited phone calls and texts, and 50 Mbits download speed in the 5G network.
You can purchase a SIMon eSim online if you’re taking your existing German number to your new contract with SIMon (no additional identification needed) or if you request a new number through SIMon (identification needed).
If you want to get a brand new phone number, you can select eSim as your Sim type when completing your order. You’ll need to verify your identity either via a video call or at a nearby post office in this case. The available options for identity verification depend on your nationality, and when you order your eSIM online, the system will show you the appropriate choices automatically. Easy!
SIMon eSim Benefits:
✅ Budget-friendly postpaid plan with high GBs to surf
✅ You can cancel your contract on a monthly basis
✅ You can pause your contract for up to 3 months – useful when you travel outside the EU
✅ Uses the 5G Vodafone network
✅ EU Roaming included
✅ WiFi Calling within Germany included
SIMon Esim Drawbacks:
⛔️ Sign up in German only
⛔️ Mobile app only in German
⛔️ Customer service in German
⛔️ Unable to purchase a new smartphone with your contract
4. O2
O2 is the third-largest telecommunications company in Germany. They offer all of their services and sign-ups in German only.
O2 does not have such a strong network coverage as Vodafone or Telekom, although it’s been getting better through the last couple of years. So before you get an O2 contract, make sure to check their interactive map to see if they offer coverage in your area.
At the time of writing this guide, their website was quite slow. Additionally, you cannot order an eSim online.
According to their FAQs, when you get a new contract, you will get a physical SIM. You need to activate that first, and then you can request an eSim through their mobile application or website. I don’t know if that is really worth the effort.
Additionally, O2 does not offer eSims for their prepaid plans.
Read Our Related Guide
How to activate a prepaid eSIM in Germany
If you plan to buy a prepaid eSIM in Germany, you need to know how to activate it. Here are the steps you need to follow:
1. Check if your device supports eSIM
Before you can activate eSIM on your device, you need to make sure that it supports eSIM. Most recent iPhone and Android devices support eSIM. Other devices that might support eSim are laptops, tablets, and smartwatches. You can check your device’s manual or contact the manufacturer to confirm.
2. Get an eSIM plan
Once you have confirmed that your device supports eSIM, you need to get an eSIM plan. Several carriers offer eSIM plans in Germany. You can check the most popular options of Vodafone, Telekom, or SIMon Mobile.
3. Verify your identity
Since July 1st, 2017, anyone who buys a prepaid eSIM or SIM card in Germany must identify themselves in order to activate the card.
You can complete the identification process within 30 days after ordering your eSim. It can be done through a video call from your mobile phone (while connected to WiFi) or in person at a post office in Germany.
The two documents needed to identify yourself are:
- A valid ID, passport, or residence permit
- A German address – this could be your temporary accommodation (including Airbnb or hotel) or your permanent accommodation if you have one already.
4. Activate your eSIM
After you have obtained an eSIM plan, you need to activate it on your device. The activation process may vary depending on your device and carrier. Some carriers provide a QR code that you can scan to activate eSIM, while others require you to download an app or visit their website to activate it. If you purchased a mobile phone with your mobile data plan, then the eSim might already be activated on your new device.
5. Enjoy your eSIM plan
Once you have activated eSIM, you can start using your plan. You can make calls, send texts, and use mobile data just like you would with a physical SIM card.
Conclusion
Before purchasing an eSIM or any other internet option in Germany, check the coverage, speed, and validity of the plan. Also, consider the compatibility with your device and the customer support provided by the provider.
If customer support in English is a must for you, then you should consider Vodafone.
If you are looking for high-speed internet or unlimited plans, then you should consider Vodafone or Telekom.
If you’re looking for a flexible, easy-to-sign-up process and the best value for money, then you should consider SIMon Mobile.
Remember that if you purchase a prepaid plan, you will need to verify your identity before they enable your eSim. So make sure only to purchase your eSim once you are in Germany and have an address to submit during the verification process.
